ORD (Chicago) window seat guide

At Chicago Ohare International in Chicago: for takeoff, sit on the Left side; for landing, sit on the Left side. Notable views include: Chicago downtown skyline (distant, to the south-southeast), Lake Michigan shoreline, O'Hare's runway complex and cargo ramps, western Chicago suburbs and the Des Plaines River corridor.

When taking off from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. With prevailing southwest winds, most departures head west on runways like 27L/28R, climbing away from the city. On the left (south) side, passengers get a distant but recognizable view of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan behind the aircraft as it climbs and any turn is made, while the right side just shows flat suburban sprawl toward the northwest. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (distant, to the south-southeast), Lake Michigan shoreline, O'Hare's runway complex and cargo ramps, western Chicago suburbs and the Des Plaines River corridor.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. When traffic flow has arrivals coming in from the east on the 27 runways (common with west winds), the approach path passes just south of downtown Chicago before turning onto final. That puts the skyline and Lake Michigan shoreline on the left side of the aircraft during descent. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, Hancock Center), Lake Michigan shoreline, Midway Airport in the distance, suburban grid of the western suburbs.

The best window seat at Chicago Ohare International (ORD) depends on several factors: the typical runway used for your departure or arrival, the geographic features around Chicago (mountains, coastlines, city skylines), weather conditions, and time of day. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting for scenic views.